Democracy beyond the algorithm: Rebuilding Our Democracy Muscles   

We live in an age of instant gratification. We can order new clothes in minutes, binge-watch entire series overnight, and get answers from AI in seconds. It's convenient, it's fast, it's often cheap. But what happens when the things that truly matter – like a functioning, vibrant democracy – demand the opposite? What happens when democracy asks for slow, messy, sometimes difficult human effort?

Based on an insightful conversation with Kathrine Krone Laurent, a democracy innovator working out of Roskilde, Denmark, and co-founder of Demokrati Fitness, it seems our democratic 'stamina' might be flagging, precisely because it doesn’t fit the easy-click mold.

‍

Diagnosing the Democratic Malaise

Kathrine points out a fundamental clash: our modern culture often craves the "nemt, hurtigt, og billigt mindset" (the desire for everything to be easy, fast, and cheap). While democracy is inherently difficult, sometimes very slow and therefore expensive – not necessarily with regards to money, but in time, energy, and the willingness to engage with complexity and differences.

According to Kathrine Krone Laurent, this clash manifests in several ways:

• Information Overload & Apathy: We're bombarded with information, often about global crises we feel powerless to influence. As Kathrine notes, this can lead to apathy – a feeling of "I can't do anything anyway" or a hope that "some adults will come and save us." 
• The Social Media Effect: Platforms designed to keep us scrolling can hijack our attention and autonomy. Kathrine mentions how quickly social media can take over our brain processes, often optimizing for engagement (likes, shares, outrage) rather than our real values of understanding or constructive dialogue. Echo chambers form, and conflict in itself becomes performative.
• Spectator Democracy: When political debate is presented like a high-stakes football match – focused on winning arguments rather than curiosity and respecting our differences – we risk becoming passive spectators. Kathrine observes, "When we see disagreement as spectator sport... we sit and think, 'Wow, I'll never be able to do that.'" This discourages personal engagement in the messy work of disagreement.

‍

The Antidote: More Than Just Voting

So, how do we rebuild this democratic stamina? Kathrine's work, including the concept of 'Democracy Fitness', suggests it's about actively training our democratic skills - or what Katrines calls ‘democracy muscles’ and embracing the necessary 'besvær' (difficulty or trouble). It’s about more than just casting a vote every few years; it's about daily practice. 

Here are some core 'exercises' drawn from her philosophy:

• Step Into the Discomfort: Actively seek out and engage with people and perspectives different from your own. Resist the urge to only surround yourself with those who agree with you. True empathy, as Kathrine defines it, isn't about agreeing or feeling the same, but the "will and ability to understand" another's viewpoint ("when I lay down the 6, you see a 9").
• Practice Constructive Disagreement: Learn to stay in disagreement without needing to 'win' or immediately find consensus. It's a muscle that needs developing.
• Active Listening: Truly listen to understand, not just to plan your rebuttal.
• Embrace Compassion: This is Kathrine's "must-win battle." Recognize that we are nothing without others, and that our actions impact not just those around us now, but future generations. It requires acknowledging that everyone, even those we fundamentally disagree with, is part of the 'us' that makes up democracy.
• Use Tech mindfully: AI, a potential sparring partner for exploring ideas, needs conscious handling. Kathrine cautions against its tendency to be a "super pleaser." We need self-awareness to use these tools without letting them simply reinforce our existing biases or lull us into complacency.

‍

Finding Strength in the Struggle

While the challenges are real, Kathrine remains fundamentally optimistic, rooted in a core belief: people are inherently smart, capable and responsible. The potential is there.

She even sees how negative trends can paradoxically spark positive energy. Indignation – seeing something unjust or wrong – can be a powerful motivator for change, helping us clarify our own values. Even polarizing figures or events, while challenging, can shake people out of complacency and force a necessary reckoning with what we stand for. The key is channeling that energy into constructive democratic action rather than just frustration.

‍

Your Turn: From Spectator to Player

Democracy isn't something done to us or for us by others in distant halls of power. It is us – in our daily interactions, our community involvement, and our willingness to engage with the messy, complex reality of living together.

The convenience culture might tempt us to sit on the sidelines, but building the democratic stamina we need requires getting back in the game.

So, here’s the challenge:

• How can you move from being a spectator to an active player in your democracy this week?
• What's one 'slow, messy, human' democratic action – a difficult conversation, attending a local meeting, truly listening to an opposing view – you can commit to?

‍

Wrapping up

Democracy isn't a spectator sport; it's a team effort. It requires us to step off the sidelines, put down our devices, and engage with each other, even when it's uncomfortable. By building our democratic stamina, we can create a more just, equitable, and vibrant society for all. To succeed democracy should be static, it must evolve.

At DemAI we find these thoughts insightful and the work of Kathrine and her colleagues inspiring. We can't wait to explore how AI can be used to empower the agenda.

For transparency reasons we would like to share our process. This post is based on a 1 hour and 55 minutes conversation that was transcribed on device using the “Recorder” app. Thereafter we used NotebookLM to add in data on Democracy Fitnes from their website and come up with a draft structure for the post where after the actual post was written in collaboration with Gemini 2.5 Pro Preview in canvas mode. The model card for Gemini 2.5 Pro Preview can be found here: https://storage.googleapis.com/model-cards/documents/gemini-2.5-pro-preview.pdf

‍